Manchester United travelled to Sixfields Stadium for their EFL Cup Third Round match with Northampton Town in desperate need of a morale-boosting win after three consecutive defeats took the shine off of Jose Mourinho's tenure at the club.

And while they secured progress to the last sixteen with a 3-1 win, it was hardly the controlled display that the Special One would have wanted.

It began well for United when Michael Carrick, afforded a rare start, put them ahead.

But Alex Revell equalised from the spot and Sixfields erupted, taunting the under-fire Mourinho.

The Premier League side proved too much for their hosts in the second period, with Ander Herrera putting them ahead and then Marcus Rashford securing the result beyond doubt and booking United's place in the fourth-round draw.

What did we learn though? Here are 5 things....

1. Mourinho rates Rooney... or is giving him enough rope to hang himself?

Wayne had a bit of a shocker... again (Image: Reuters)

Few things are as divisive today as the form of Wayne Rooney, US election farce included. This one really brings out the anger in people.

Such is the extent of the funk in which he finds himself for club and country that his detractors fear he must somehow have come into possession of a dossier full of the most damning skeleton's in the FA's closet.

And Mourinho's too, based on his new manager's determination to persist with the United number 10.

Rooney has played every minute of United's league campaign so far bar about five. But he has been rotated out in cup games, so it was a surprise to see him start tonight at Sixfields.

A statement of faith from his manager?

Jose Mourinho gave Rooney a chance to recapture his form (Image: Reuters)

If it was, Rooney didn't disappoint - fluffing his lines on numerous occasions in the first half.

He missed a sitter inside the area and had his blushes spared by Michael Carrick after the midfielder converted his blocked indirect free-kick.

If Rooney turns things around and reinvigorates his Man Utd career, football historians won't trace the resurgence back to this game.

2. Memphis Depay is rapidly becoming a flop

Few players in the white and steel-grey of Manchester United needed a good performance as desperately as Memphis Depay.

Despite the public backing of Mourinho at the outset of the campaign, the out-of-sorts winger has barely featured so far this term and flattered to deceive in the minutes he did register against Feyenoord in last week's Europa League defeat.

And so it was that the Dutchman had another quiet game for the visitors, again failing to make a significant mark on the game, or any sort of impact at all.

When his number went up and he trudged off in the 55th minute, few would have remembered he was even still on the pitch.

Another disappointing run-out for United's number 7.

3. Northampton prove why they were League Two champions

Alex Revell scores from the penalty spot to equalise for Northampton (Image: Reuters)

Alex Revell celebrates his goal (Image: Getty Images)

The Cobblers have been enjoying a fine time of things recently.

They won League Two at a canter last year and have just put together an unbeaten run of 31-straight league games.

In fact, that run only came to an end following their 3-1 weekend defeat at the hands of Chesterfield.

They showed just how tough they can be after battling back from 1-0 down, when Revell levelled from the penalty spot.

It may ultimately have been too much for them to overcome a team of the calibre of Man Utd, but they certainly gave the Premier League giants a run for their money and more than a little scare.